SOUTH West Trains is inviting rail passengers to nominate their favourite member of staff for the 2016 Stagecoach Group Customer Service Champions Award.

It is the seventh year of Stagecoach’s group-wide champions awards which recognise staff achievements in a number of categories, including safety, environment, health, innovation, community, and customer service.

The awards are open to employees across Stagecoach’s bus and rail operations in the UK and North America, and around 120 staff members have been honoured for their outstanding efforts over the past six years.

SWT?is calling on the help of its millions of rail customers to nominate their favourite employee.

“It could be a driver, train manager, guard, member of station staff, catering personnel, customer service assistant, or any other member of the South West Trains team,” said managing director Christian Roth.

All employees nominated will be in with a chance of winning a gold, silver or bronze champions award as well as a cash prize.

In addition, customers who nominate a winning employee will also receive a cash prize – £500 for nominating a gold award winner, £250 for silver, and £125 for bronze.

Mr Roth added: “We know many of our staff have a great relationship with our customers and the job they do is appreciated by many people.

“This is a chance for our customers to help staff gain recognition at a national level as well as potentially winning a prize themselves.

“We hope people will take the time to nominate their favourite South West Trains employee.”

Customers who wish to nominate an employee should visit www.stage coach.com or e-mail champions@stagecoachgroup. com to give details of the staff member and an explanation of why they believe the employee deserves to win an award.

The deadline for nominations is midnight on Thursday, May 27.